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NV Twp. Bakery Cooks Up Something Special
Extension of local catering business features scratch recipes, ethnic favorites
By Stacy Alderman
The Tube City Almanac
October 21, 2025
Posted in: North Versailles Twp. News
North Versailles Twp.’s Apple Harvest Bakery & Catering had a booth at Pittsburgh’s Three Rivers Arts Festival this summer. (Submitted photo courtesy Facebook)
When owner Larry Newcomer decided to start using his catering building on Third Street in North Versailles Twp. as a bakery storefront this past spring, pastries soon started flying off the shelves.
Anchored by General Manager Michelle Martin and head Chef Vasil Oblockovich, business for Apple Harvest Bakery & Catering has been booming thanks primarily to word of mouth and social media.
“Two weeks ago, a little girl was in here and made 3 TikTok videos,” Martin said. “And they already have tens of thousands of views.”
According to Oblockovich, business increased so much after the videos were posted that they had to hire two new staff members.
(Submitted photo courtesy Facebook)
The catering business has been opened for several years and had quietly become a local favorite, even running the Serbian booth at McKeesport’s International Village in August. But now — even before the magic of TikTok — Apple Harvest’s bakery, located at 1122 Third St., off Crooked Run Road, is quickly on its way to becoming a community staple.
While passersby may come into Apple Harvest looking to try their signature square donuts, giant apple fritters, or homemade breakfast sandwiches, they return for the daily lunch specials, catering service, and authentic ethnic foods.
“I’m full-blooded Serbian,” Oblockovich says. “I grew up on ethnic food and my best teacher was Grandma.”
Oblockovich, who trained under master chefs and TV chefs, delights in cooking cabbage rolls, meatballs, and chicken tenders all from scratch, just to name a few of his most popular dishes.
“We’ve catered for a Ukrainian church, a christening for a Serbian family, at International Village, and have an event coming up with the Junior Tamburitzans,” Martin explained. “And people are always excited to see authentic ethnic foods.”
Those old-school, Eastern European culinary skills allow Apple Harvest to tailor each event to the individual client.
“We don’t have many menus online because we want to know what your favorite food is,” Martin said. “Tell us about your ethnicity, your background. If you’re planning a wake or funeral service, tell me what your loved one’s favorite food was. If you want buffalo chicken dip, we’ll make you buffalo chicken dip.”
“Food is comfort, food is love,” she said, and Apple Harvest has made sure to spread that love throughout the community.
“Our owner is very big on investing in youth, veterans, and first responders in the community,” Martin said.
Apple Harvest has catered for school events, like the recent Elizabeth Forward hockey banquet. They also offer first responders 50 percent off everything and provide free food to veterans on Veteran’s Day.
“It’s the people that set us apart,” Martin said. “Not only (customers) who are leaving good reviews, but our great bakers and amazing counter staff.”
One of Apple Harvest’s new hires has an extensive background in gluten-free and sugar free food, and Martin hopes this expertise can help them create a whole line of diet-specific goods.
While dietary restrictions may seem challenging in the food industry, Apple Harvest’s owners said it may be a little less so for them considering everything is made from scratch.
“You’ll find no giant buckets of glaze, no tubs of jelly. We’re cutting up real fruit and compoting it,” Oblockovich said.
“Nothing here is frozen,” Martin added. “And we use real ingredients with no crap, no chemicals.”
Stacy Alderman is a White Oak-based freelance writer whose work has appeared in Heather Christie's Love Notes, THEMA Literary, inScribe Journal, Minerva Rising, and several others. She is the recipient of the Children of Steel fiction award.
Originally published October 21, 2025.
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